1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph. Initially, the play takes place in a New York apartment in upper Manhattan(naturally, pricey). A couple live in the apartment, by the names of Amir and Emily. In the opening scene, Emily is trying to paint Amir,who is confused as to why he wants to paint him exactly. This starts the conversation. The play occurs around the year 2012. Amir is a lawyer who is at odds with his Muslim heritage, and other characters of the play include Abe, Amir’s nephew, as well as Jory and Isaac, a couple that are friendly with Amir and Emily.
2. What is the intrusion? During the dinner scene, I believe the intrusion occurs. The conversation soon begins to focus around Muslims and Islam, and it initially establishes the tensions between the characters, as well as where they stand on the Muslim faith and its devotees. We soon come to learn more unfavorable qualities about the character’s, namely Emily, as we discover soon after that she has fetishized her relationship with Amir and uses his religion as a badge of honor rather than an actual genuine interest. 3. What is the unique factor? I would say that the unique factor would be the fact that although he is a Muslim by blood, Amir is not religious at all, establishing his stance on the Islamic faith, and framing the subsequent tensions with appear throughout the play. 4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play? Will Amir be fired? What will come of Amir and Emily’s relationship? 5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it. 1.Information that only one character knows Amir’s alcoholism, as well as Emily’s opinion of Islam, which in turn becomes revealed and reaffirmed through her actions 2. Information that everyone knows: Amir and Abe have changed their names as a method of assimilation to American ideals. This proves symbolic for it appears as if they have forsaken their heritage in order to advance in American society. 6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be. The drunken confrontation that Emily and Amir had concerning her infidelity I would say was the most theatrical moment of the play. The tensions of the play(religious, socioeconomic, ethnic) finally culminate and clash as Amir rains down all of his frustration on Emily, ultimately beating her. As I stated, I believe his beating Emily was more symbolic if anything. By lashing out at her, he lashed out at his frustrations, society, Islamophobia. Etc. The affair was the straw that broke the camel’s back but the combination f his frustrations with society manifested into Emily as he slapped her.
7. List some of the themes of the play. Religion, Ethnicity, Race, American(what does it mean?), Appropriation, Islamophobia, Fidelity 8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants? Amir ultimately wants to live out the American dream and all of its ideals. He hits a roadblock in what he wants namely due to “me vs. society”, and “me vs myself” obstacles. Concerning me vs myself, Amir is his biggest hindrance as he has estranged himself so completely(or so it seems to him) from his culture and heritage that it feels as if he himself is suffering from an identity crisis of sorts. To others, his outward detachment from is culture appears as a me vs society issue for others look at him an perceive him to be Muslim, this in turn confuses them once they hear of his detachment towards his religion. It does not play over well for because his view of himself and society’s view of himself clash, since society ultimately defines his socio-economic stature, he is in abit of a bind. Must he appease society and give them what they expect of him, or shall he carve out his own path, albeit it is one rooted in erasing his past as a result of prejudices and predispositions people have towards him because of is ethnicity. 9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play. A predominant image in this play was the Velazquez painting. We encounter it a few times throughout the play and I believe it comes to be significant and symbolic towards Amir and Emily’ relationship, as well as Amir’s relationship with society. The initial conversation started over the painting was Amir’s confusion as to why his partner wanted to depict him as a slave. Emily did not see him as a slave, instead, stating that he was an assistant, and ultimately giving a euphemism for the slave’s denigrated status. This ties into the idea of disgrace and societal perception of Muslims, for Amir saw the man for what he was, a slave, whilst much of White America looked upon him as merely a subordinate, as if the true nature of his bondage were of little importance. This reflects the cursory consideration that Americans have towards Muslims and their treatment, a candy-coated attitude to mask the injustices that Muslim-Americans face.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play. Dynamics at hand: Amir and Abe: familial, as well as religious, in that their heritage and ethnicity added a layer of kinship between them Amir and Emily: coupledom, although it is jeopardized by Emily’s affair
Initially, the play takes place in a New York apartment in upper Manhattan(naturally, pricey). A couple live in the apartment, by the names of Amir and Emily. In the opening scene, Emily is trying to paint Amir,who is confused as to why he wants to paint him exactly. This starts the conversation. The play occurs around the year 2012. Amir is a lawyer who is at odds with his Muslim heritage, and other characters of the play include Abe, Amir’s nephew, as well as Jory and Isaac, a couple that are friendly with Amir and Emily.
2. What is the intrusion?
During the dinner scene, I believe the intrusion occurs. The conversation soon begins to focus around Muslims and Islam, and it initially establishes the tensions between the characters, as well as where they stand on the Muslim faith and its devotees. We soon come to learn more unfavorable qualities about the character’s, namely Emily, as we discover soon after that she has fetishized her relationship with Amir and uses his religion as a badge of honor rather than an actual genuine interest.
3. What is the unique factor?
I would say that the unique factor would be the fact that although he is a Muslim by blood, Amir is not religious at all, establishing his stance on the Islamic faith, and framing the subsequent tensions with appear throughout the play.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Amir be fired?
What will come of Amir and Emily’s relationship?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
1.Information that only one character knows
Amir’s alcoholism, as well as Emily’s opinion of Islam, which in turn becomes revealed and reaffirmed through her actions
2. Information that everyone knows:
Amir and Abe have changed their names as a method of assimilation to American ideals. This proves symbolic for it appears as if they have forsaken their heritage in order to advance in American society.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The drunken confrontation that Emily and Amir had concerning her infidelity I would say was the most theatrical moment of the play. The tensions of the play(religious, socioeconomic, ethnic) finally culminate and clash as Amir rains down all of his frustration on Emily, ultimately beating her. As I stated, I believe his beating Emily was more symbolic if anything. By lashing out at her, he lashed out at his frustrations, society, Islamophobia. Etc. The affair was the straw that broke the camel’s back but the combination f his frustrations with society manifested into Emily as he slapped her.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Religion, Ethnicity, Race, American(what does it mean?), Appropriation, Islamophobia, Fidelity
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
Amir ultimately wants to live out the American dream and all of its ideals. He hits a roadblock in what he wants namely due to “me vs. society”, and “me vs myself” obstacles. Concerning me vs myself, Amir is his biggest hindrance as he has estranged himself so completely(or so it seems to him) from his culture and heritage that it feels as if he himself is suffering from an identity crisis of sorts. To others, his outward detachment from is culture appears as a me vs society issue for others look at him an perceive him to be Muslim, this in turn confuses them once they hear of his detachment towards his religion. It does not play over well for because his view of himself and society’s view of himself clash, since society ultimately defines his socio-economic stature, he is in abit of a bind. Must he appease society and give them what they expect of him, or shall he carve out his own path, albeit it is one rooted in erasing his past as a result of prejudices and predispositions people have towards him because of is ethnicity.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
A predominant image in this play was the Velazquez painting. We encounter it a few times throughout the play and I believe it comes to be significant and symbolic towards Amir and Emily’ relationship, as well as Amir’s relationship with society. The initial conversation started over the painting was Amir’s confusion as to why his partner wanted to depict him as a slave. Emily did not see him as a slave, instead, stating that he was an assistant, and ultimately giving a euphemism for the slave’s denigrated status. This ties into the idea of disgrace and societal perception of Muslims, for Amir saw the man for what he was, a slave, whilst much of White America looked upon him as merely a subordinate, as if the true nature of his bondage were of little importance. This reflects the cursory consideration that Americans have towards Muslims and their treatment, a candy-coated attitude to mask the injustices that Muslim-Americans face.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Dynamics at hand:
Amir and Abe: familial, as well as religious, in that their heritage and ethnicity added a layer of kinship between them
Amir and Emily: coupledom, although it is jeopardized by Emily’s affair